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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES | 95

Children’s Services Administrative Support Branch

Children’s Services Administrative Support Branch Develops Framework for Kinship Culture T he Children’s Services Administrative Support Branch develops policy and collaborates with county and community partners to promote key initiatives that improve the outcomes of children and families involved in the child welfare system. Riverside County is one of eight counties statewide participating in the Kinship Accelerator Program through the California Department of Social Services. Children’s Services participated in a Rapid Improvement Event in early 2024 to improve the process and approval time for kin placement. Policy and practice changes are being evaluated and made, with some early improvements being demonstrated, says Bridgette Hernandez, Assistant Director of Children’s Services Division.

Focus groups have been conducted to explore the experiences and feedback of key stakeholders including relative caregivers, biological parents and former foster youth. The valuable input will guide the development of a new Kinship Advisory Council. The council, which is in development, will act as a conduit between kinship care providers and Children’s Services Division, to engage the community and promote positive system change. “My personal goal is to see 75% of our kiddos placed with kin,” says Hernandez. “I think we can do that. We have room to grow, to brainstorm and identify placements we might not immediately be thinking about.”

With support from multiple statewide partners including the Center for Excellence at UC Davis, Riverside County is developing a plan to focus on key indicators that support an enhanced Kin-First Culture. Increasing the number of children and youth who can be placed with kin – usually a family member or trusted friend – requires focus from all those involved in child welfare, says Ben Slagter, deputy director of the Children’s Administrative Services Branch. “We want to make sure we are prioritizing the preservation and permanency of the connections a child has to their family and community—their kin,” Slagter says. “Research demonstrates children in kinship care have better outcomes with more positive behaviors and improved stability.”